Fastening means



p 1952 A. B. HAMMITT ET AL 2,611,459

FASTENING MEANS Filed May 1, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 mmvrons ANDREW B. HAMM/ TT y HERBERTL. B/RUMJR A TTORNEY Sept. 23, 1952 A. B. HAMMITT ET AL FASTENING MEANS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 1, 1947 Wm mmw Y MM 5 wfi sm I 0 r 7 W 7 W MW MM Vs B Patented Sept. 23 1952 Aren't OFFICE FASTENING MEANS Andrew B. Hammitt and Herbert L. Birum, J12,

Trenton, N. J.

Application May 1, 1947, Serial No. 745,142

1 Claim. (Cl. 189*35) I Our invention relates to fastening devices, and more particularly to fastening devices for securing sheet material to structural framework elements.

Heretofore, sheet material has been secured to structural framework elements by means of conventional bolts and toe clips. The use of such fastening means has necessitated extensive scaffolding both within and without the building structure to which the material is to be applied, and thus has made the application of'the sheet material a relatively expensive procedure.

Toggle type fastening means which have been previously designed to effectuate a similar purpose have not been entirely satisfactory. They have either been lacking in the requisite strength for the purpose or have not been formed so that a suitable engagement between the engaging surfaces of thetoggle and the structural framework element occurs. Our device, however, is especially-designed to accomplish this result.

Briefly, our invention contemplates the use of a toggle type fastening device comprising a bolt member and a new and novel type of toggle pivotally' secured on one end of the bolt member. The toggle member is specially formed with surfaces adapted for simultaneously engaging the undersurfaces of a framework element and sheet material. These surfaces coact when the device is tightened up so as to retain the sheet material securely on the structural framework. The pivotal securing of the toggle member to the bottom portion of the bolt allows the toggle member to be positioned so that the fasening device may be easily inserted through openings formed through the sheet material adjacent the purlin or structural element. The toggle then may be maneuvered into a position fromwhich it may be drawn up into a securing position entirely from the outside of the structure. The need for scafiolding and workmen on the interior of the building is thus eliminated altogether.

An object of our invention is to provide an improved means for securing sheet material to a structural framework.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved toggle type fastening means for securing sheet material to a structural framework.

A still further object of our invention is to provide such fastening means which may be applied entirely from one side of a structural frame work.

These and other objects and features of our invention may be readily'perceived from the following; description thereof in which reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the preferred form of our fastening device;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views through a building construction showing various steps in the application of our fastening device;

Fig. '7 is aperspective of an alternate form of our device; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views through a building showing various steps which may be employed in applying the alternate form of our fastening device.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, our device comprises a bolt member 2 and a toggle member 4 pivotally mounted thereon.

The bolt member 2, which may be formed of a metal or any other suitable material having the required strength, is preferably J-shaped in appearance and has a shank 6 with a reversely turned portion 8 integrally formed on one end thereof for receiving and pivotally securing the toggle member 4. Screw threads (0 are formed along substantially the entire length of the shank 6.

In orderto provide suitable surfaces for en gaging portions of the structural framework and the sheet material simultaneously, the toggle member 4 is formed on its opposite ends so as to provide a portion l2 for engaging the undersurf-ace of a framework member and a portion Id for engaging the undersurface of the sheet material. These members are preferably formed by twisting or otherwise forming the end portions of the toggle member 4 which lie on opposite sides of the central bolt receiving portion N5 of the toggle member. The engaging surfaces l8 and 20 of the end portions l2 and M lie in planes extending substantially at right angles to the plane in which the central bolt receiving portion it lies. *Since the undersurface of the purlins or structural elements to which the sheet material is applied generally lie in a plane parallel to and spaced below the undersurface of the sheet material itself it is preferable that the upper engaging surface It of the sheet material engaging portion [4 of the toggle should lie in a plane above the plane of engaging surface 20 of the framework engaging portion I2. This is preferably accomplished by forming or further bending the sheet material engaging portion l4 so as to provide an off-set'portion I! which positions the sheet material engaging surface l8 slightly above the framework engaging surface 20 of the framework engaging portion l2 when the fastening device is properly positioned. This construction serves to cause the engaging surfaces l8 and 20 to engage the sheet material and structural element throughout substantially the entire area thereof and affords a firm, rigid connection for securing the sheets in place. At the same time the pivotal connection between the toggle and bolt permits adjustment of the toggle so that the engaging surfaces will lie flush against the under surfaces of the sheet material and the structural framework member, even though the opening in the sheet material is displaced or the framework or sheet material is distorted or expand or contract unequally with changes in temperature.

The twisting of the material imparts a sufficiently greater strength to the toggle member 4 so that it may be formed from ordinary strip stock and still be endowed with suflicient strength to withstand the most severe stress and shock. We have also discovered that when the off-set portion i! of the toggle is located directly adjacent the twisted end IQ of the central portion i6 so that the off-set forms in effect a continuation of the twist, the construction has remarkably greater strength. The twist [9 then reinforces the off-set i1 and preventsit from being straightened out when the fastening device is being drawn up in securing the sheet material in place.

It has also been found preferable to position the bolt member 2 in the bolt receiving portion iii of the toggle member 4 so that it is nearer the purlin engaging portion [2. This enables the force transmitted through the bolt member 2 when the fastening device is tightened up to effect a firmer engagement between the purlin engaging portion l2 and the flange 3B of the purlin 26.

Informing the fastening device it is preferable to first form the threads in on the shank 6 of the bolt member 2 leaving a. portion thereof extending below the threaded portion which is subsequently formed into the reversely turned toggle receivingportion 8. The toggle member 4 is then formedby twisting a strip of metal or otherwise shaping rigid material as above described. It is pointed out, however, that the toggle member may be formed by casting or by any other suitable method. An opening 22 of sufficient size to receive the toggle receiving portion 8 of the bolt member 2 is then formed through the bolt receiving portion i6 of the toggle member 4. The toggle receiving portion 8 of the bolt 2 is then passed through the opening 22 and bent upwardly or otherwise deformed so as to retain the toggle member 4 thereon. The toggle member 4 is thereby pivotally mounted on the bolt member .2 and willrotate around the reversely turned toggle receiving portion 8, but cannot twist sideways so as to slip off the portion 8. Although the toggle 4 may be so mounted that it may revolve in a relatively free manner by adjusting the width of the toggle receiving portion 8, we have found it preferable to secure the toggle member 4 to the bolt member 2 so that complete revolution of the same is prevented by contact betweenv the surfaces I 8 or 20 with the shank 6 of the. bolt .2.

Reference to Figs 2, 3, 4, and 6 illustrates the manner in which the fastening device may be applied entirely from one side of the building structure. .As shown, the sheet of material 24 is positoned on the purln 26. An opening 28 is then drilled through the sheet material. adjacent the horizontally extending edge of the upper flange 30 of the purlin 26. The opening 28 should be '4 of sufficient diameter to permit the passage therethrough of the toggle member 4 and the toggle receiving means 8 of the bolt 2. In order to facilitate the insertion of the fastening device the toggle member 4 is rotated until it assumes a position in which the framework engaging surface 20 of the framework engaging portion l2 abuts against the shank 6 of the bolt member 2 and the sheet. engaging portion I4 extends downwardly therefrom at a slight angle to said shank. The fastening device is then passed through the opening 28 as shown in Fig. 3 until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 4, the bolt member 2 is then drawn upward slightly so that the uppermost edge of the purlin engaging portion I2 contacts the under surface of the sheet of material 24 and is rotated or pivoted about the toggle receiving portion 8 into a purlin engaging position.

The fastening device is then lowered and maneuvered into a position in which the purlin engaging portion l2 of the toggle member 4 engages the undersurface of the extending flange 30 of the pur1in26.

It may be noted that another advantage to be gained by .preventing free rotation of the toggle member 4' on the bolt member 2 is to prevent the displacement of the toggle member 4 after the same has been maneuvered into a purlin engaging position.

A special sealing member 32 such as that described in our copending application Serial No.

676,562 filed June 13,1946, having a deformable extending tab 33 is then passed over the externally projecting portion of the bolt member 2. The tapered. body 34 of the sealing member extends downwardly into the opening 28 of the sheet material 24 toseal the space between the bo1t2 and. the sides of the opening 28. A steel or iron washer 36- having a diameter exceeding thev diameter of the opening 28 through the sheet material 24 is placed over the sealing member 32 and a retaining-member or nut 38 is then threadeddownward against the washer by means of the screw threads HI'of the shank 6. The bolt 2 is thus drawn up .as the retainng member 38 is screwed downwardly-on the shank 6 until the framework engaging surface 20 of the framework engaging means I2 lies flush against and firmly engages the under surface of the extending flange 33 of thepurlin 26. The sheet material engaging surface l8 of the sheet engaging means I4 is at the: same time forced upward against the under surface of the sheetmaterial 24 while the tapered body 34 of the sealing member 32 is swedged into and completely seals the opening 28 formed through the sheet material 24 and about the shank 6 of the bolt member 2.

When the fastening device is securely tightened the portion 40 of the threaded shank 6 extendmg above: the retaining member 38 is snipped off and the extending tab 33 of the sealing member 32 is folded over and pressed around the exposed end of the bolt, the washer 36 and the retaining member 38 so as to form a weatherproof seal therefor. In this manner complete application of the fastening device may be effected from one side of a structure, and costly scaffolding and labor heretofore located on th building is eliminated. e interior of the An alternate form of our invention particularly designed for use in applying ridge rolls to cover the gap between the upper edges of the sheets at the peak of a roof is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. In this form of our invention the bolt member 2 and the reversely turned toggle receiving portion 8 thereof are the same as described above. The toggle 42, however, is formed so as to present a symmetrical appearance with illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 so as to form the engagf ing portions 43.

In applying this form of our invention, the openings 50 fastening devices are passed through The toggle member 42 is preferably portions of a strip of other variations which will not depart from the spirit of our invention may be readily foreseen.

"The forms shown and described herein are therefore intended to be illustrative only and it is not intended that the scopeof our invention shall be limited thereby.

We claim: A fastening device for securing sheet material to a structural framework'comprising a bolt having a shank with threadson one end thereof, the 1 opposite end of the shank being reversely turned through substantially 180 and presenting an extremity which is substantially parallel to and ad- Y jacent the shank, a toggle member formed of strip stock and having a central portion with an opening therein engaging the reversely turned end of the shank, said portion lyin between said formed in the ridge roll 52 at specified intervals and are positioned so that they are suspended from the center of the ridge roll with the toggle members 42 extending in a direction parallelito the edges of said ridge roll.

The lead sealing members 54, the steel or iron washers 56 and the retaining members or nuts 58 are preferably ap plied before positioning the ridge roll on the roof sheets. The ridge roll with the fastening devices f shank and parallel extremity and held against lateral tilting thereby so as to be movable in a single plane between the shank and parallel extremity, said toggle member having opposite ends connected to said central portion by a twisted part and presenting engaging surfaces adjacent and supported by said twisted part, said engaging surfaces extending lengthwise of the toggle memher and in opposite directions from said central portion and lying in planes at right angles to said so positioned is then lowered onto filler strips 59 and 6| extending along the upper edges of the sheets 46 and 48 on opposite sides of the slot 68 extending longitudinally of the ridge of the roof between the adjacent edges of the sheets. As the ridge roll is lowered into place with the toggles 42 extending parallel to the slot 60 the toggles, pass down below the under surfaces of sheets 46. and 48. The fastening devices are then turned: at right angles to slot 60 or are otherwise};

maneuvered until the toggle portions 42 extend in a transverse direction to the ridge roll 52. The

sheet engaging portions 43 of the toggles are then so positioned that they will engage said underfsurfaces when the fastening devices are tightened I up. After making sure that the ridge roll 52 is resting properly on the filler strips 59 and BI, the fastening devices are tightened up so that a firm engagement is effected between the sheet engaging portion 43 of the toggles 42 and the undersurfaces of the roof sheets 46 and 48. Thepor tions 62 of the shanks 6 extending above the retaining means 58 are then snipped off and. the tabs 64 of the sealing members 54 are foldedover and molded around the exposed end of the shank 6 and a firm, secure weathertight connection results.

The same or similar devices and methods may be used in securing overlapping sheets of sheet material. The engaging surfaces on the toggle member may be preformed so as to specially fit specifically shaped surfaces such as the lower surfaces of corrugated sheet material. These and central portion in position to. engage the inner surface of framework "and sheet material when the threaded end of the shank is passed through an opening in the sheet'material adjacent the framework, one of said engaging surfaces lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the other engaging surface but offset above the plane of the opposite end.

1 ANDREW B. HAMMITT.

HERBERT L. BIRUM, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 450,127 Wrigley Apr. 7, 1891 564,251 Long July 21, 1896 736,586 Daugherty Aug. 18, 1903 780,810 Payne Jan. 24, 1905 1,168,257 Kennedy Jan. 11, 1916 1,576,727 Deniston, Jr Mar. 16, 1926 1,648,927 Wurdack -1; Nov. 15, 1927 2,011,390 Bailey Aug. 13, 1935 2,061,478 Pepin Nov. 17, 1936 2,130,546 Hovey Sept. 20, 1938 2,161,259 Lindsay June 6, 1939 2,386,386 Doke Oct. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 823,539 France 1937 

